THE BIRDS & THE BEASTS WERE THERE

A REPORTER IN AFRICA about a recent visit to wildlife preserves in S. Africa. Kruger National Park is somewhat olde & larger than most the others. As far back as 1898, Stephanus Johannes Paulus Kruger took up the cause of protectin wildlife in that part of the world by setting aside land for sanctuary... Speaks of animal behavior: different species grazing in groups, thus assuring themselves of an effec ive warning system, about wild game adopting itself to the ways of civilized man -birds still not accurately gauging the speed of approaching cars, impalas stampeding in front of a car. The elephants & some of the larger Carnivora seem to be better adjusted. Tells about poaching on game preservations. The British official in charge of it said that if something isn't done soom, there won't be a wild animal larger than a rabbit left. Poaching the government-operated game preserves has become an organized business, in which, it is estimated, as many as a hundred rings or gangs, of traders are engaged. The African native, on the other hand, has always hunted animals for food, & it's the instinctive thing for him to do. The devices the Africans employ for killing game include poisoned arrows, pits concealed by foliage, cheap, homemade guns that only wound & maim, & snares & nets. Tells about the wast -a hunter merely interested in getting a meal for himself & his family - leaving the rest of the carcass to rot; and about elephant killing in the regions of Tsavo National Park, by the Wakamba, and the Waliangulu tribes. The preserves haven't enough rangers, & no money to employ more. At the same time the law against poaching is ridiculously weak...

The former interim chair of the Democratic National Committee talks about her new job at Fox News and why she is so frustrated with partisanship in the media.

Arising from the dust cloud of recent conflicts is the question of whether the readers scorching various Y.A. novels have legitimate reason to take offense, and, if so, what form the offense should take.